Nebraska man, 27, who sexually assaulted teenaged girls while posing as high school student learns his fate in court
A 27-year-old Nebraska man who posed as a high school student to sexually abuse female students could spend the rest of his life in prison after previously being sentenced to 85 to 120 years in prison.
Zachary Scheich of Lincoln created an elaborate backstory to pass himself off as a student from two Lincoln high schools he attended last year, even getting another woman to pose as his mother.
Scheich pleaded guilty to enticing children by electronic communication, producing child pornography – age 19 or older, attempted first-degree sexual assault and two counts of first-degree sexual assault in July.
Aside from registering under the Nebraska Sex Offender Act, he will not be eligible for parole for the next 40 years.
Zachary Scheich, 27, posed as a high school student to sexually abuse female high school students and could spend the rest of his life in prison
“They didn’t know how to protect themselves from you. Because they thought you were their equal. Their friend. And because you had earned their trust,” Judge Darla Ideus said
“They knew not to talk to a grown man on social media. They knew not to meet a grown man in person, they knew how to defend themselves from that kind of danger,” Judge Darla Ideus said during sentencing.
“They didn’t know how to protect themselves from you. Because they thought you were their equal. Their friend. And because you had earned their trust.”
Scheich was arrested in July 2023 when authorities learned he was posing as a student at both Lincoln Northwest High School and Lincoln Southeast High School, using the pseudonym of 17-year-old “Zak Hess.”
It was subsequently revealed that he had had inappropriate relationships with students during the 2022-2023 school year.
After creating false documents to make his “elaborate backstory” believable, Scheich attended classes at the schools for a total of 54 days, during which time he sexually abused multiple children.
Scheich was sentenced to 85 to 120 years in prison and may not be eligible for parole for at least 40 years.
Scheich sent text messages to 13- and 14-year-old girls, talking about school sports and schoolwork, leading them to believe he was 17 years old
Court documents show Scheich texted 13- and 14-year-old girls for months, talking about school sports and schoolwork, and leading them to believe he was 17.
Court documents show the conversations went on for months, with Scheich even meeting with the teens’ families and posing as 17-year-old Hess.
Scheich asked for – and received – nude photos from a 13-year-old girl and promised money in return.
At one point, investigators said, he asked the girl if she would lose her virginity to him.
After Scheich’s arrest, Lincoln police reported that at least three other people came forward with their own allegations.
“This individual appeared to be a high school student, but he also presented very well-formed, forged documents as part of his school admissions process,” said Dr. Paul Gausman, superintendent of Lincoln Public Schools.
Scheich was arrested in July 2023 when authorities learned he was posing as a student at both Lincoln Northwest High School and Lincoln Southeast High School
Lincoln Assistant Police Chief Brian Jackson said Scheich “appeared to be mingling with the other students.”
“This individual provided a birth certificate and a high school transcript. It all turned out to be fake,” said Matt Larson, LPS assistant director of educational services.
Larson says Scheich’s forged birth certificate, high school transcript, vaccination records and even a physical exam were extraordinarily convincing.
“This student completed the enrollment process online and submitted the documents online, and his or her parents were not directly involved in the enrollment process, which is not unusual,” Larson said.
Oddly enough, Scheich was already attending Lincoln Southeast in 2015, but no one who worked there recognized him from that time.
Lincoln Police Assistant Chief Brian Jackson said Scheich is 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighs 120 pounds and “appears to have been mingling with other students.”
In addition to Scheich, 23-year-old Angela Navarro was also arrested by police last September after authorities suspected she helped Scheich enroll in the two schools by posing as his “mother.”
Deputy District Attorney Amber Scholte described Schiech as a “predator of the worst kind.”
“He targeted them, groomed them and lured them through social media,” Scholte said. “He did that under the guise of being their equal, their friend and in some cases their boyfriend. And he did that for his own sexual purposes and gratification.”
Schiech’s father, Jeff, a pastor in Lincoln, addressed his son’s crimes in front of his congregation.
“We heard the bizarre story that he was enrolled as a student at LPS this past school year. We heard through the news, as you did, the magnitude of the allegations against him — and it’s horrific.”
Jeff Schiech prayed ‘for anyone who may have been injured.’
In addition to Scheich, 23-year-old Angela Navarro was also arrested by police last September after authorities suspected she helped Scheich enroll in the two schools, posing as his “mother.”
Navarro has pleaded not guilty to one count of criminal impersonation and will pay a $5,000 fine.